Sam, Julie, and Tina put together a blogging initiative to encourage more math teachers to share their experiences, their struggles, and their classrooms. I'm behind schedule, so this is my Week 1 post.

As I've mentioned plenty of times before, I'm not in the classroom anymore, which is tough from time to time. It gets even harder when I go back to the site I taught at for a semester. One simple semester was all it took for me to make a connection with my students, and it's apparent every time I step foot on that campus. Nevertheless, I love what I do, knowing that I can make a difference in the lives of more students than the 175 I would see on an annual basis. Still, this tweet from Michael Pershan got to me a little:

Has anyone else noticed this thing where people who aren't exactly what you'd call classroom teachers call themselves "teachers" on twitter?

John,
It was so refreshing to read your post. It was like you were in my head already.

I don't think it matters whom you teach, but rather that we continue to teach. I too am a math coach with 8 schools to help. I feel like I might be having a greater impact coaching, then if I were still in my middle school classroom teaching 170 kids.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Kristen

Reply

Nancy Wilson

2/2/2016 09:31:26 pm

Dear John,
Glad to read that you confirmed that you are a teacher, and from the sounds of it, a conscientious one at that. Quality not quantity!

I am new to blogging, as a matter of fact, this is my first one, and for a class. I don't follow Twitter, I barely check Facebook. MP perhaps has not paid enough attention to life outside the fence to know that learning and teaching occur everywhere, not only within the confines of the 8-3 classroom, but during every second of life. Our first teachers were parents and guardians, and for many adults, still tutor us.

As for the trials and tribulations of passing on my love of math to 7th graders, it's a daily challenge to know who will be on board, who will not only do homework but experience the benefits of practice in the next lesson. Hey, maybe I need to rename it "Home Practice?" Semantics. Now I'm starting to sound like my students. Or am I?